Expression of calponin mRNA in porcine aortic endothelial cells.

Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we determined the expression of the mRNAs for basic calponin isoforms, namely h1 and h2 forms, in the porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAECs) and aortic smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). The mRNAs for both h1 and h2 calponin isoforms were expressed in PAECs as well as in PASMCs. However, the expression of h2 isoform mRNA was more abundant than h1 isoform in PAECs, while h1 isoform was more abundant than h2 in PASMCs. These findings indicated the existence of calponin mRNA and the predominance of h2 over h1 calponin isoform in PAECs. It is suggested that h2 as well as h1, calponin isoform might have a physiological role in vascular endothelial cell. This is the first report which describes the existence of calponin h2-dominant cells.